Stage 3 of the Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré included the famous Mont Ventoux, one of the most impressive climbs that exists on the planet. It's where Lance Armstrong offered a stage win to Marco Pantani in last year's Tour de France.

A local proverb says: "Someone who climbs the Ventoux is not crazy, but someone who does it again is definitely crazy." This phrase was created before bicycles were invented. Anyway, at the Tour de France or any other race like Paris-Nice or the Dauphiné, it's always something exceptional to climb the Ventoux. Pavel Tonkov did it very well.

Three kilometers to the top of the climb, Venezuelan Unai Etxebarria of Euskaltel went away and no one came across. Tonkov looked pretty easy on the climb and pumped up the speed in the last kilometer so the people following the race could see who was suffering under his action. It gave team directeur Alain Gallopin the impression that "there's really something big to do in this race".

Tonkov's group of 13 men crossed the line only three seconds behind Etxebarria. Axel Merckx is the current race leader and there'll be an interesting battle between David Millar and Christophe Moreau for the yellow jersey during stage 4 that is a long 45 kilometer time trial. Millar's Cofidis team was well represented in front of the race over the Ventoux with four men in the leading group and Euskaltel also has a strong multiple climbers squad. But Tonkov is ready to play his cards in the mountains after the time trial.

So far we've had a total of 73 participants in the Hamilton Cycling Club's Tuesday Night Criterium Training Ride. It's great training, hot competition and fun, too.....and we always go to Tim Horton's after. Come on out and join us!

June 5th, 2001 - We had a record number of participants - 40! - to make for a very exciting ride. The top five finishers for June 5th were: